First direct passenger flight between Moscow and Pyongyang takes off

The first direct passenger flight between Moscow and Pyongyang in around three decades has taken off.

On Sunday at 7:25 PM Moscow time, a Pyongyang-bound flight operated by Russian Nordwind Airlines departed from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.

The flight carries about 400 passengers and takes around eight hours.

Tickets cost about 45-thousand rubles, roughly 560 U.S. dollars.

Until now, the only direct flight between Russia and North Korea was the Vladivostok-Pyongyang route.

Since last year's comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, Russia and the North have expanded transport cooperation.

Russia is also considering a new direct route to Wonsan on NorthKorea's east coast.